Meet me Monday -LiKim Chuah

Meet me Monday-mini interviews about creativity with my fave people!
This has been nothing short of fascinating and fun to work on, if you enjoy reading and looking at this half as much as I did you will be happy.

Viewing LiKims' photography and collage images bring me rapidly to a point to envy,but I can also find joy in sharing her sense of creative playfulness...

"I am primarily a photographer, exploring the streets of the city or new suburbs.

I am into geometric building lines, shapes, old abandoned buildings, decaying things, composition, awesome colours and textures like peeling paint or oil stains on the road.

I actually feel like I have run out of Melbourne places, which is scary.I need to know more cool places to visit...anyone with any ideas please let me know.
I use two digital cameras;my SLR EOS 450D and my crappy camera phone. Film cameras from op shops and a couple of special novelty ones like the Golden half which I bought online in a moment of weakness. I use normal film, cross process slide film, red scale film and on occasion I alter/cut/paste/ink onto negatives.

Some of my favourite creations are from a long time ago...my sister back in the day.

As an op shop addict I always come across heaps of old school cook books with garish, ugly and gross food photos.I never had any use from them, other than my buffet themed jacket costume last Halloween...

Recently due to cold cold weather and grey skies I have started using these cook book images in collage, along with old National Geographic mags, kids picture books, pet books and sports books.

I love the kitsch factor of the photos, sitting in front of the TV cutting out the pictures and covering the entire lounge room floor in peices of paper.
I don't have a table and work on the floor which is bad for my body and anyone else who is wanting to walk through the lounge. As relaxing as collage is- it's harder than it seems.
Sometimes I might sit for a hour or more trying to position a puppy in front of rioting protesters.

I use a very crappy cheap stanley knife, stolen scissors, borrowed cardboard glue and pens from work and some textas I bought in Japan.
Make something creative every week or every day, even if its crappy and lame...create don't consume! And also cheese and banana on toast is underrated. You can add in peanut butter to the mix(Don't knock it til you've tried it)'
Thanks so much LiKim,
I had such fun with this,
anyone else interested in being featured drop me a line,
Xkate
To see more of LiKims wonderful works of collage art and inspired photography go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/li-kimchuah/
and blog
http://angryaliceart.blogspot.com/

cold and flu craft!

Lots of fellow bloggers are sick or their kids are sick. My kids are home (yet again) with another cold...

the main points for healing are-
lots of good fluids-clear broths, water, diluted juices. Spending some time in the sun.
Rest.
How to rest? Make yourself ignore the mess(it will keep) and find a project that requires you to sit...
while caring for my little ones I have been tackling some recycling projects.
I bought a 2nd hand lilac mohair cardigan. It had beautiful vintage buttons which I cut off. I have been un ravelling it apart and winding it into balls or as the knitters say 'frogging it '(rip it,rip, it, rip it)
This will make about 4 balls of yarn, so for $6 I got some beautiful yarn and buttons.
To find out how to do this yourself see this link
;http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-recycle-an-old-sweater-or-a-botched-one-i/

This is my cold relieving honey tea recipe-

2 tablespoons honey,
cup water,
juice of 2 lemons,
half teaspoon fresh ginger and some fresh mint...
in a small saucepan heat up water with honey to dissolve, remove from heat then add the juice, ginger, and mint and steep for a while. Strain for kids and serve up still warm.


Another good way to rest is to browse online...Jackie French's various websites make great reading.
She is a green gardening guru- her sites and books abound with recipes, insights into gardening and so much more besides.
She writes wonderful fiction stories as well and has written for earth garden magazine for years...aww, she even helps rehabilitate injured wombats back into the wild! I have to admit to being a big fan of her work....

Here's a couple of her recipes, word for word and taken from her website-
Last Resort Cold Cure
I have no evidence at all that this works - though taking three raw cloves of garlic (with food) while the cold or flu lasts may lessen its duration. Maybe it's chief advantage is that it's so horrible that you feel you HAVE to get well - just so you don't have to take this stuff.
3 cloves raw garlic, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
pinch of powdered cinnamon
6 drops Tabasco sauce
half a teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 cup hot water
Mix all ingredients. sip slowly (there is no way you can gulp this down.) Now go to bed. You'll need it. Be prepared for severe indigestion and long and painful burps.

Chicken Soup
Chicken soup may just- possibly- help the inflammation in colds and flu. Even if it doesn't, it makes you feel cherished- and the warm fluid does no harm either.
Ingredients:
4 cups chicken stock (Bought or home made)
juice of 1 lemon
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon olive oil
Saute the garlic and onion in the oil till soft. Add stock; cook for ten minutes; add the lemon juice and serve.
Go here for more....
http://www.jackiefrench.com/
xkate

new things

Please excuse this really ordinary photo!

It shows a crochet stitch, spike stitch, which is used in the project 'Sienna headband' from the beautiful book vintage crochet
I talked about this book earlier here....
http://dashrobin.blogspot.com/2009/11/treasures.html

It is a slightly challenging stitch. Simply 'spike' your crochet hook below the row you are on, yarn over, then draw through and pull the yarn up to meet the top of your work, yarn over again and draw through both loops on hook and continue...or if that made no sense, google it!

This was my first attempt but I have since being playing around with colours that are only very subtly different and the results are very interesting. Its wonderful how one new stitch or tip from someone can open up a whole field of new ideas sometimes...


Apart from crocheting my heart out, I did go into the city and shifted around and re stocked my supply of goodies at Bleeding Heart too, so it's all there for you to see at Bleeding Heart cafe, in the school of arts building on Ann street in the city.



Expect to see more changes soon as the wall behind is going to be painted(YAY!) and some more exciting things are planned...



Miss dish now has set up shop too, and her dramatic and beautiful creations are well worth investigating.


I am reminded of burlesque style outfits when I see her rich luscious pieces but they would be suitable for more down to earth fashion too...sometimes its nice to jazz up a plain jane outfit with something contrastingly pretty, do you agree?


This is such a long blog but before I sign off, one more thing;
This weekend, this Sunday actually, at the Nudgee foreshore there is a music festival in celebration of wetlands and the migratory birds who visit them. It sounds like a lovely mellow event for big and little folk, and celebrates conservation of these important habitats and the diverse species of travelling birds who live in them. It also combines another love of mine, world music, with performances by varied performers...check out the details here...

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_5999

xkate

wattle tree

A teeny tiny view of a year in the life of a wattle tree...

Sam mentioned this bighugelabs.com mosaic maker on knitglob, and ooh, I couldn't wait to try it out...but umm...its little huh?!
I will have to work out how to size up the images cos clearly I haven't quite got it right yet, but I am sure anyone else using it would be better at it than I(not very tech savvy yet) and it's so much fun-check it out here.
http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php
xkate

bleeding heart cafe display

This is the face which greets me in the mornings...sometimes perhaps a bit earlier in the morning than is strictly necessary. Me, I like to rise after the sun does...but there was good reason to get up early and be excited today. I had a job to do! Bags, toys and brooches were at the ready and are now all set up and looking just right.

So, now, I want you(yes, you) to go check it out, in person, at the Bleeding Heart cafe and gallery, Ann Street, Brisbane http://www.bleedingheart.com.au/...truly, I love this space, I love what I made and can't think why you wouldn't too!
xkate

little footprints.

I have a lot of environmental information below, and am trying any which way I can to help to reduce destruction of this fragile beautiful place, our world(which by the way our life depends on-fancy that!)
But first here's my new friends who's carbon footprints are very small, yes?


As my boys and I are raising 4 baby silkworms I have been looking up information about them...and amongst the many sites I found this little gem, simple to read and non advertorial.
http://www.permaculturevisions.com/silkworms.htm
so if you have a need for a quiet little pet, have a peek, not everyone is a dog/cat person.
The sensation of their tiny feet gently gripping onto my skin is the most tender experience. They are so delicate. They eat a LOT of mulberry leaves though, I am restocking twice a day with only 4 mouths to feed so it matters to have tree nearby.

"and where is that leaf!?"

Anyhoo, aside from tending these guys I have been making these


and reading this
which is informative and easy to read. Highly recommended!
And now for the longest post I think I will ever have....
A crash course of sorts- on redgums!Lets get in a submission this Friday!

'Dear Red Gum Supporter,

The future of our fragile Red Gum wetlands is being decided in the next
few weeks! The NSW Natural Resources Commission has put out its first
report, and we have just three short weeks to make comments on it.

If you want to see Red Gums protected in world class National Parks
instead of being carted to Melbourne as cheap firewood, then we need you
to write a submission.'

These trees are such incredibly beautiful and life supporting living structures, as their branches fall their trunks form natural hollows which become homes to endangered birds and sugar gliders amongst other creatures.

'The River Red Gum forests of the Riverina are islands of iconic remnants in one of the most poorly reserved regions in the country. They line the major rivers of of the region, the Murray and Murrumbidgee and provide refuge habitats for hollow dependant species like the Barking Owl and the Squirrel Glider. The Central Murray Red Gums are listed under the Ramsar convention as internationally significant wetland; and are of vital cultural significance to indigenous Traditional Owners, who have never relinquished their sovereignty. And yet, there is just one tiny nature reserve along the NSW side of the Murray, and the forests are being patch clearfelled for low value products like firewood and railway sleepers. Help support the campaign to create large new national parks in the River Red Gums, with aboriginal ownership where sought by Traditional Owners.'

We've provided information below to make that as quick as possible for
you. Just make the key points below, add a note about your own feelings
on the issue, and keep it short and sweet. The closing date is 23rd
October 2009.

Points to Make in a Submission

The Regional Assessment of River Red Gums and Woodland Forests conducted
by the Natural resources Commission (NRC) is inadequate for the
following reasons:

• The NRC has not conducted a scientific assessment of the conservation values of River Red Gum forests in the study area.
• There is no consideration of the national reserve criteria or how they will be met.
• The impact of logging on ecosystems has not been considered.
• CSIRO findings that large protected areas are vital to the survival of species in a warming world have been ignored.
• Refugia, corridors and linking habitats in the region have not been identified
• The report fails to address the legal requirements of that EPBC Act 1999

Ask the NRC to address these failings in their next report, and to
ensure that they recommend:

1. Extensive new Red Gum National Parks because:
* Under the national reserve criteria Red Gum is a vulnerable ecosystem that needs a 60% reservation target
* Red Gum forests are vital refuges for plants and animals in a rapidly warming world
* National Parks are crucial to ecosystem resilience

2. Joint management of new National Parks because:
* Red Gum forests are living cultural landscapes that provide bush foods & medicines and contain many cultural sites
* Traditional Owners hold critical ecological knowledge and have cultural obligations to care for country
* Joint Management brings new employment opportunities for Aboriginal communities

3. Much improved environmental water flows to ensure the health of Red Gum into the future

4. A fair restructure package for individuals and businesses affected by the changes.

Email to forests@nrc.nsw.gov.au

good wishes to all who work towards making things better,
xKate

Circus

Yesterday I saw Dralion, the circus show being staged by the Cirque de soliel in Brisbane this summer. It was fabulous and the performers are mindboggling-ly talented. It was the kind of show that anyone could enjoy, families were there in force because it was a matinee show and it was sweet to watch young and old faces alight with joy and wonder.

www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/en/showstickets/dralion/

I did classes in aerials and general circus skills at the supportive and safe space of the Vulcana womens circus classes this year. The instructors are so encouraging and skilled, they make everything fun, challenging, exciting...it is a womens only space and attracts a diverse group of home makers, career performers, students, business women, etc. It is a wonderful learning environment and is a great way to get fit while learning new skills, meeting people and having fun.

They are having a show case this Saturday at the powerhouse and it is on at 2. I can't be there (because of the markets) but if you are local and are interested in seeing what its about, do go along, gold coin donation for entry and the show usually goes for about an hour.

www.vulcana.org.au/

xdash

eco art

I have just moved house, so I am looking at my surroundings a bit more critically than usual. I need a bath mat.

The instructions are almost insultingly easy, did any one else do a latch hook rug as a kid, because it is basically like that? I remember my childhood latch hook project had a funky little cloud and rainbow design, and seemed to take forever to make, but that was with fine bits of yarn and as this is made with towel 'thread' it should be easy?!

Anyway instructions here;

http://ecologue.com/ShowArticle/recycled-bathroom-mat

This link is from the recyled craft section of the ecologue website;

http://ecologue.com/Default.aspx

a good resource, but it is designed by and for U.S folk.

My favourite basic resource about how to reduce environmental impact at home was put together by the Australian Conservation foundation;

http://www.acfonline.org.au/default.asp?section_id=86

This site has a carbon footprint calculator and so much information about household energy saving, it's easy to spend ages reading through it all.

I had a bit of a happy find yesterday. In my suburb it is kerbside collection time, people put out their large bits of junk, usually broken tvs and old fridges but surprisingly often good stuff . The council then collects it and trucks it off to thier tips...

Anyway, yesterday I got a unused large compost bin, a garden tool organiser-stand thing and some pots. Why do people throw theses things away, don't they know anyone, anyone who wants these things? $80 at Bunnings for the exact same compost bin and they throw it out? Not that I am complaining! My housemate did the whole permaculture certificate and is full of great plans for our garden, so I think this compost bin was meant to come to us...

I have a fun project planned for this weekend. I am going to transform a mdf book shelf into a painted and felt decorated masterpiece for the kids room...

I have some light blue paint and plan to glue on something like these fellas...

and paint some birds on it...hope the kids will like it!

I am really looking forward to some creative play after all this moving, driving,etc-ing...

xdash